Eric: This is not right. Yeah, you're right. You're right. Sorry. This one's
good to go, though.

Ridge: Definitely. Thank you, girls.

Eric: (Clears throat) If I had more time, I could fix that.

Ridge: Yeah, well, we're out of time, and frankly, we're out of ideas, too.

Eric: (Sighs)

Ridge: Are we just fooling ourselves here? If we wind up embarrassed on that
runway because of a collection that was put together too quickly, I cannot be
held responsible for what I do to Rick.

Eric: Now you stop it. You leave him alone.

Ridge: It's criminal. If he did it, there have to be consequences.

Eric: All right, that's enough. Ridge, that's enough. It doesn't matter how
those designs found their way over to Jackie M.

Ridge: Oh, Dad, how can-- how can it not matter here?

Eric: The--the-- the only thing that matters is how we handle it as a company
and as a family. And we can stand around re. We can point fingers at each other
all day long, but what we have to do is buckle down. We have to concentrate on
this. We have to fire back, and that's what we're gonna do. We're gonna fire
back.

Nick: Well, it's a pleasure to meet you, Madame X.

Bridget: (Foreign accent) The pleasure is all mine.

Jackie: Yes, well, my son is an extremely busy man and not at all interested in
the design aspect at all.

Nick: I'm very interested in it when the future of this company relies on the
new designer. Are you up for this?

Bridget: (Scoffs) Well, I am more than capable, Mr. Marone.

Jackie: (Sighs)

Nick: You can just call me Nick.

Bridget: Nick. My designs will inspire you. I am sure of it.

Nick: Well, inspiration's good. Do you always work with your sunglasses on, or
is this just for meeting people?

Bridget: Well, my eyes are incredibly sensitive to light.

(Telephone buzzes)

Bridget: Always, always on.

Nick: Well, imagine that.

Jackie: Hello? (Gasps) Oh, thank you. Thank you for the warning. Thank you.
Sorry to cut this meeting short, but I arranged an interview with Jarrett
Maxwell, and he's on his way up as we speak, so, Madame X, um, you are going to
go behind the screen, and please get ready to strike a pose on cue. (Whispers)
Don't worry. He doesn't have a clue.

Bridget: (Whispers) What do you mean, "Strike a pose"?

Jackie: Oh, you know, strike a pose. It's part of your allure.

Bridget: (Sighs)

Nick: Jarrett, come on in.

Jarrett: Oh, thank you.

Jackie: (Normal voice) Well, Jarrett. Jarrett, thank you very much for coming.

Jarrett: Oh, well, I couldn't pass up an exclusive about a new designer at
Jackie M.

Jackie: (Laughs)

Jarrett: I mean, I have to admit, I am a little surprised, though. I mean,
y-you--you just-- you just unveiled the most impressive designs I've ever seen
from-- from Clarke Garrison.

Jackie: Oh, thank you.

Jarrett: Now why would you possibly be getting rid of him?

Jackie: Oh, heavens, no! We're not getting rid of that brilliant man, are we?
No, no, no, no, no, no. In fact, it was Clarkes' huge success at the last Jackie
M. Design show that made me realize now is the perfect time to add fresh new
talent to our roster.

Jarrett: So who is this fresh face?

Jackie: (Mysteriously) Her name... is Madame X.

Taylor: In love? Steffy, don't be ridiculous.

Steffy: It's true.

Taylor: (Sighs)

Rick: (Sighs) Look, we came together during a time when we were lost, and we
were--felt alone, and--

Steffy: And yeah, we were grieving.

Stephanie: Oh, stop it! We're not gonna have any lying here. You went after her.
You know that.

Rick: Steph--

Stephanie: You wanted to break up Ridge and Brooke. Come on. You came to me. You
talked to me about this. The kiss?

Steffy: (Sighs) Oh--

Stephanie: Steffy, you're smarter than this.

Steffy: It was like that before, but it didn't--

Rick: Th--things changed, okay? When Phoebe died, no one--

Taylor: Don't say her name! Don't you ever say her name. You have not earned
that right.

Rick: I'm sorry, okay? I'm just trying to explain, but--

Taylor: (Stomping foot) What the hell is wrong with you?! What? I mean, what did
I do? Do you hate me that much?

Rick: What? What? No! That's not what--

Taylor: Do you hate me that much because I wanted to end things, and now you
want to hurt me? Is that--

Rick: What? Taylor, my God! That is not what's happening right--

Taylor: Why? Why would you do this then? You know, I haven't blamed you for
Phoebe's death, but I'll be damned if I let you take my other daughter away from
me.

Ridge: You know what? I blame Sally Spectra for this.

Eric: Sally Spectra?

Ridge: Think about it. If sally was still in the game over there at Spectra
pulling her tricks, we'd be on top of this.

Eric: We were always on our guard, weren't we, for whatever Sally might have
planned?

Ridge: Now we know that Jackie Marone didn't just take over Sally's building.
She took over the, uh, business ethics, as well.

Eric: It wouldn't surprise me if Jackie had a few Spectra-style tricks up her
sleeve. But actually, the only thing she really has is Clarke Garrison.

Jarrett: Madame X--I love it. Come on out of there.

Jackie: I don't think so.

Jarrett: Oh, I don't get to interview her?

Jackie: (Laughs) Madame X is going to remain a mystery for now. Let her designs
do the talking for her. Come, I will show you a few of the pieces that got me
interested in her in the first place.

Jarrett: Oh. Oh, my that's-- that--that's gorgeous. (Laughs)

Jackie: Indeed. (Laughs) and...

Jarrett: Oh, yes, uh, quite daring, I have to say.

Jackie: Which is why I wanted her to join my team. Jarrett, I want you to take
this, and I want you to include it in your next article, because this
exemplifies the kind of designer that Madame X is and the kind of fashion you're going
to be seeing at our next show. (Whispers) Jackie M. has arrived.

Jarrett: (Sighs)

Taylor: She is my daughter. (Sighs) This is wrong. It isn't love. It's payback.

Stephanie: It's so obvious, and if you can't see it, then you really are sick,
and you need help.

Rick: Would you just stay the hell out of this? God, you make me so angry.

Taylor: Yeah, well, Rick, anger has pretty much taken over your life these days,
hasn't it? You're angry at me for breaking up with you. You're angry at Ridge
for being involved with your mother, and you're angry at Phoebe.

Rick: What? No. What--

Taylor: Yes. Because she got in your car.

Rick: Stop it. You know what happened.

Taylor: Yes, she caused the accident. Yes, that's why you're angry. Even if she
did cause it, you know in your heart that you are never going to stop wondering
what you could have done differently...

Rick: (Sighs)

Taylor: Before she got in the car. I'm not trying to say this to be hateful.
(Sighs) I'm not. I-it's just the truth. And you're going to need some help for
that. But you are not going to do this to Steffy. You are not going to use her
to break up Ridge and Brooke, and you are not going to use her to get over
feelings about me. And you will not use her as a weapon against her own father.

Rick: This is not about revenge. Yes, I have issues with Ridge. Hell, I have
issues with you. But this--what I feel towards Steffy is genuine.

Steffy: Mom, we are in love. That is what this is about.

Taylor: He was telling me that just not that long ago! He was pursuing me, just
like he did Phoebe. It's a pattern. Can't you see it? That's just like what his
mother does!

Stephanie: He's just like his mother, only she went after your grandfather, your
father and your uncle.

Taylor: He's just emulating his mother, because that's exactly what you do,
isn't it, Rick? You go after women that you know will hurt Ridge and get him all
upset. You don't want to believe it, but it's true. It's wrong. It's unhealthy.
(Sniffles) I wasn't able to protect Phoebe from you, but I will protect her.
It's over.

Eric: Jarrett. Did we have something scheduled for today? Did you--

Jarrett: Oh, no, no, no. I-I-I just wanted to get a couple of comments from you
before I run my story.

Ridge: Your story on what?

Jarrett: Jackie M. Designs-- "The rise of a new fashion house."

Eric: Oh, well, one successful collection does not make a fashion house. You
know that, Jarrett.

Ridge: Look, those designs are not typical Garrison, either. Even if he was the
one behind them, I really doubt you're gonna see a repeat performance.

Jarrett: Oh, uh, is that your official opinion? That, uh, Garrison is taking
credit for another designer's work?

Eric: No, absolutely not. But I agree with Ridge. I mean, Garrison's not gonna
hit another home run like that ever again.

Jarrett: Well, maybe not, but the new designer over at Jackie M. Just might.

Ridge: New designer?

Jarrett: Mm-hmm. She's called "Madame X." (Laughs) Jackie is really playing up
the mystery here, but let me tell you, I just saw her behind a screen, but, uh,
she made quite an impression.

Nick: Oh, just something in the accent I heard. Never mind. I was looking at
these earlier, and-- very good. Sensual. It's obvious that you want the women
who wear your designs to feel desirable. So who's the lucky guy?

Bridget: Excuse--excuse me?

Nick: Who's the man that inspired this? Maybe someone from your past? Well,
whoever he is, he must be something special to inspire this type of passion,
artistry. Truly breathtaking.

Rick: Taylor, with all due respect, you cannot tell me who I can and cannot be
with. You gave up that right.

Stephanie: This is such payback.

Taylor: That's right. That's exactly what it is. I ended our engagement, and
then you went after the one thing I have left to hurt me.

Steffy: Mom, you could be happy that I was able to turn to him.

Taylor: (Sighs)

Steffy: I found a man who understood my grief and my pain. I found someone, and
he loves me.

Stephanie: What happened to Marcus?

Steffy: Marcus is a great guy. And yes, I had a crush on him, and I thought it
was love... until I actually fell in love.

Taylor: Okay, how about you, Rick? What you felt for me, was that--was that
love? Was that just a crush?

Rick: Don't go there.

Taylor: Why? Because it'll make you remember why I ended things? Hmm? It might
remind you of--of the hatred that you had for Ridge?

Steffy: Mom, stop.

Taylor: No. That's what this whole thing is about, Steffy. He hates your father
so much. He only wants to go after women that he knows will destroy him. Did you
ever really love me? Look at it. Look at the women he's been with-- Ashley,
Phoebe, me and now you.

Steffy: Mom, I'm not that naive. I wouldn't feel this way if it weren't real.

Taylor: You deserve a man who loves you.

Steffy: I am not Phoebe. You do not have to protect me from anything. If you
just understood how we--

Taylor: If you think that I am upset, how do you think Ridge is going to react
if he finds out about this? How? I don't even want to imagine what that's gonna
be like. (Sighs)

Ridge: So Jarrett, what is it? Is there more to the story?

Jarrett: Take a look at this. Jackie gave it to me to run with the story. It's a
sneak peek of what we can expect from the next collection.

Ridge: You think Madame X has talent? It's gonna take more than one sketch.

Eric: Let's not, uh, jump to any conclusions about the effect that this person
will have on the fashion industry. It's an interesting stroke style, I have to
say. Some--something familiar about it, actually. Look, you need to do us a
favor. As soon as you find out who this person is, off the record, you let us
know, all right?

Bridget: (Foreign accent) I must go. I really am running--

Nick: I'm sorry. Am I getting too personal?

Bridget: No, no, it's just-- I just, uh--

Nick: No, no, please. I'm out of line here thinking that you need a man to
inspire such work like this. Forgive me, please.

Bridget: Hmm.

Nick: In fact, I'm sure you've gone out with some real losers, men who don't
understand your art at all.

Bridget: I have been with a few clunkers, yes.

Nick: Yeah. Not everyone understands dressmaking the way that I do.

Bridget: Fashion connoisseur?

Nick: Oh, absolutely, especially when I see such talent as this.

Bridget: Tell me, Nick, what is it that you love about my work?

Nick: Your work? Yes, yes. Incredibly precise...

Bridget: Hmm.

Nick: As though you're a surgeon about ready to make a delicate incision in a
patient or a young doctor who has to make a spot-on lifesaving diagnosis. That's
exactly what it reminds me of. Or an up-and-coming physician who obviously
possibly made a wrong career choice and is looking for a new line of work.
That's exactly what this... (drops portfolio) reminds me of. Yes, Madame X, did
you really think that you could fool me... Bridget?

Bridget: (Gasps)

Steffy: You don't have to remind me of Dad. I'm already worried how he's gonna
react to this relationship.

Taylor: You know exactly how he's going to react.

Stephanie: There isn't going to be any relationship, Steffy.

Rick: Oh, my God, will you stay the hell out of this?

Stephanie: Somebody has to make this decision because neither one of you are
thinking clearly to see what you're actually doing.

Steffy: That's what we've been doing! (Sighs) I stay awake every night thinking
how this is gonna hurt Dad and my family. But there has to be a way 'cause I'm not
gonna give him up. Mom, and it starts with you. Just accept my choice. I know
what's best for me. Will you do that?

Taylor: No. No, I cannot.

Steffy: Well, if you could just try to understand, then I know Dad would, too.

Stephanie: Your father is never going to accept you sleeping with Rick.

Steffy: Well, then, what am I supposed to do? What are we supposed to do?

Stephanie: End it.

Rick: No, this is ridiculous. You--we should be able to do whatever we want. We
can keep this a secret for as long as we- we-

Stephanie: You have got to end this before your father finds out.

Taylor: It is the only answer there is, sweetie.

Rick: No, you cannot dictate what we do.

Stephanie: You could have made this easy for her, but no, you son of a bitch.
You made the selfish choice for yourself. Okay. We'll do this the hard way then.
You get out of this house, or I'll call the police.

Steffy: Grandma, no!

Rick: Oh, my God, you are--

Stephanie: Yes, I will. You try me. Try me.

Taylor: No, I want to talk to my daughter. This is my house. You get out. Just
go, or I'll call the police.

Steffy: No, you--just let--

Stephanie: No.

Rick: No, I'm not gonna leave you.

Stephanie: Get out of here. Go on, Rick.

Rick: (Sighs) I love you.

Stephanie: Yes, yes. Go.

Steffy: I love you, too. Why are you doing this to me? Don't you know I love
him?

Taylor: Look, sweetheart, I love you. I love you.

Steffy: No, you don't!

Taylor: I'm so sorry, but we can't let this happen. This family has been through
enough. It will destroy us. Please, sweetheart. It can't. It's wrong. It can't
happen. I'm so sorry. (Sniffles)

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